James s



(No Model.) v I J. s. COPELAND.

VELOOIPEDE.

N0.558,260, Pate nted Apr.14",1896;

- I 7106722307: Z ZLs M J QM UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

POPE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE AND MAINE.

PORTLAND,

VELOClPE-DE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,260, dated April 14, 1896.

Application filed May 13, 1895. Serial No. 549,468. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES S. COPELAND, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes, &c., of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to means for connecting together different parts of the frames of velocipedes, or other frames or parts of any other structure, of which one at least is tubular.

I have herein illustrated applied for the special purpose of connecting together the upper and lower rear-fork tubes of bicycles and for supporting the rear axles, whereby the position of the rear axle may be adjusted according to the Variations in the length of the driving-chain but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to such use.

The features of improvement wherein the invention consists will be fully described hereinafter, and will be pointed out in the claims which follow.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and in which I have represented embodiments of my invention, Figure 1 is a side View of the rear portion of the frame of a bicycle to which my improvements are applied, parts being represented as broken away in order to save space in the drawings. Fig. 2 represents in edge view a connection-piece and two half -thimb1es, hereinafter referred to, ready for assembling. Fig. 3 is a face view of the connection-piece SllOWdl in Fig. 2. Fig. 4c is a face view of a connection-piece or toepiece adapted to be secured to one of the upper rear-fork tubes and to receive and support the rear axle. Fig. 5 is a face view of a connection-piece adapted to be secured to one of the lower rear-fork tubes for connection with the toe-piece shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an edge view of the toe-piece and connectionpiece shown in Figs. 4. and 5, fastened together as indicated in Fig. 1.

The means of connection which is herein referred to has been devised with particular reference to its use with such parts of a bithe invention as cycle-frame as are directly concerned with the adjustment of the rear axle for variations in the length of the driving-chain; but by reason of its cheapness and the large amount of brazingsurface allowed, which gives great strength for the amount of metal, it is equally useful in other parts of the frame, in frames other than bicycle-frames, and in fact in any structure 'in which atubular part is to be connected to a fiat or flattened part or piece, and I will therefore proceed to describe it generally without reference to the particular use.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the connection-piece A is formed of sheet metal and is of a width which adapts it to fit within the end of the tube, as B, to which it may be applied. Near its inner end it is preferably provided with one or more marginal notches a a. NVith the connection-piece is combined a thimble, or, as represented, "two half-thinlbles O O, which areadapted to fit snugly within the end of the tube, as B, and to embrace betweent-hem the connection-piece A, the two parts preferably having lugs c c to engage the corresponding notches a a in the connection-piece.

When the parts are assembled, they are brazed together and are also brazed within the end of the tube. The notches a a and the corresponding lugs may be dispensed with, but are preferably employed. As represented in Figs. 2 and 3 and in the upper portion of Fig. 1, the connection-piece A is shown as having a hole afor the reception of a bolt, by which it may be pivotally connected with the seat-post bracket in order to permit each upper rear-fork tube to swingas its lower end is adjusted.

. It is obviousthat the connection-piece may have any suitable form, according to its location and use, the means for securing it to the tube being substantially the same in all cases.

Thus the connection-piece D (shown in Fig. a and at the lower end of Fig. 1) is adapted for thereception of the axle of the rear wheel and for cooperation with the connectionpiece E. (Shown in Fig. 5 and also at the lower end of Fig. 1.) As the part of the frame which usually supports the axle of the rear wheel is commonly called the toepiece, this part D will be so designatedhereinafter in order to distinguish it from the other connection-pieces referred to.

It will be observed that the connectionpiece or toe-piece D has a slot or fork d for the reception of the axle of the rear wheel. The upper rear-fork tubes being adapted to swing and means being provided for effecting the desired adjustment of such upper rearfork tubes and for retaining said tubes firmly in adjusted position, it will be obvious not only that the required adjustment may be effected readily and quiekly,but that the rear wheel may be removed from its bearin gs whenever necessary, withou t taking the drive-chain apart or altering the adjustment of either frame or chain. The connection-piece E, having a shank e by which it is secured to the lower rear-fork tube, is provided with a slot 6, which is disposed transversely with respect to the axis of the upper rear-fork tube B. The toe-piece D has a hole d for the reception of a bolt H, which passes through the slote of the connection-piece E and receives a washer h and nut h, whereby the two pieces I) Emay be clamped firmly together in the required position. The connection-piece E has also a hole 6 in which is secured, by brazing or otherwise, a stud I, which receives the adjusting-screw K, the latter being adapted to bear against the toe-piece D and thereby to efl'ect the required adjustment of the upper rear-fork tube.

It will be obvious that other arrangements of the parts may be made, if desired, and that other clamping and adjusting means may be substituted for those shown.

scribed, nor, with respect to the means of coin neetion, to any particular use.

hat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a tube, of a flat connection-piece adapted to be inserted within the end of said tube and having in its edges one or more notches and a thimble adapted to be inserted with the connection-piece in said tube and to be secured therein and having one or more lugs to engage the correspondingnotehes in the connection-piece, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with a tube, of a flat connection-piece adapted to be inserted within the end of said tube and having in its edges one or more notches and two half-thimbles adapted to embrace the end of said connection-piece between them and to be inserted therewith and secured in said tube and having one or more lugs to engage the corresponding notches in the connection-piece, substantially as shown and described.

This specification signed and witnessed this th day of May, A. D. 1895.

JAMES S. COPELAND.

Inv presence of- \VILLIAM T. ITAMILTON, HELEN L. DAY. 

